Do it yourself

 
Let's start with a story. Once, under circumstances that need to remain a bit murky, my daughter and her friend and I were invited to a family's vacation retreat. A vacation retreat is different than a vacation home in that it consists of hundreds of acres, a compound of buildings, better recreational facilities than most towns have, and a large, full-time staff.

The three of us agreed that we would remain completely cool at all times and we would conceal our awe. The first thing we did was pull up to the barn where we had been directed to go first. The doors silently slid open and revealed an underground parking garage, and, as if on cue, the three of us all screamed in amazement. Fortunately, no one was around to see our lowbrow behavior. We managed a veneer of coolness the rest of the visit. We probably just needed to get that scream out of our system.

 
So we're walking through the main building with its ten or fifteen bedrooms, each of which was more beautifully decorated than the one before. A little gushing over the decor was in order, and our guide explained how the lady of the house did all of the rooms herself, and didn't she do an incredible job?

Well, I was impressed. She made all of those pillows? And duvet covers? And curtains? And painted those walls? And then it dawned on me. "Doing it herself" meant that she had chosen the furniture and fabrics and paint. Perhaps she had a decorator at her side, or perhaps she roughed it and looked through paint and fabric samples on her own.  But labor-wise, not so much. It was clear we lived in different universes, and our definition of "do it yourself" was only one of the differences.

 
I think about that now, because when I'm stripping wallpaper and painting walls and unscrewing hardware, there's a lot of time to think about things. I am so intent on doing this project all by myself. Even the parts that would be easier if I had somebody to help me do, like hang the cupboard doors. (Although if and when it comes to flooring and countertops, I'm definitely getting Mr. Oodles involved.) Possibly because at this point in my life, my weeks seem to be consumed with getting hundreds of little things done, and those big, satisfying projects seem few and far between. I think most people's lives work that way.

There are horse-show ribbon photos in this post because they're the only photos I've got at the moment, and they're indirectly related to my project. I decided at some point as well that I wanted to earn all of the money for the makeover. So I look at things I have hidden away in boxes and drawers, like the horse-show ribbons, and think, yes, I do like you. But I'd like a freshly painted dining room more. And so I sell them on eBay.  

This has had the dual benefit of providing cash and making space. This post is getting long, so I'll reveal my complicated, daring business plan soon. It's back to work for me. Those cupboards aren't going to paint themselves. And I'm not going to get anyone else to do the work for me.

  
 

Comments

[Sarah]

Seeing your button photos on ebay reminds me - Jack gave some of my prized buttons away to his kindergarten class! ARGH. I nearly died. LOL

[Into Vintage]

Were we separated at birth? I painted the entire exterior of my house (walls, trim, moulding, every little doo-hickey) all by myself because with no help. Hiring someone to do it would have been easier (probably cheaper too as this project went on for a quite a while - my tip - do the front first before you run out of steam and annoy your neighbors with your half-painted house) but I wanted the satisfaction of being able to write this extremely wordy comment one day.

The bucket list just got a little shorter.

[Maria (Magia Mia)]

Oh I know what you mean about doing it yourself. Makes me ill when I hear from my painting clients that, in the past, they paid an interior designer $100 an hour to help them pick out a paint color.....OY! Deciding on colors seems so natural to me, so it's hard to grasp the concept of paying for it. Alternate Universe, indeed!

Oh, and I hyperventilate every time I find vintage horse show ribbons at the thrift stores. Those babies command great prices on Ebay and Etsy, and are truly a sure thing to sell.....

P.S. Ha Ha, go Amy!

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

Ok, so those horse ribbons are NOT the new kitchen wallpaper. I feel so much better now, because those would have clashed so terribly with all the jadeite!

[Lena]

Well, I've pretty much always had to do everything myself too, and have made do for most of my life, but now and then, one of the younger people in my life needs to earn a little extra cash, so I will hire them do a little something for me, like paint a cupboard. So many young people are having a hard time of it these days. Older folks too, I suppose.

[Beth Leintz]

I had the same idea- I want new flooring for bedrooms- so I'm selling stuff on eBay. I will have to bring in a professional for this - if Mr Dust & I try to use power tools together...well, it wouldn't be pretty...

[Sue]

I nearly panicked when I saw those ribbons. I thought you either (a) broke into my home, or (b) found my secret source.... And don't get me going on DIY—emphasis on YOURSELF!

[kris]

In the middle of remodeling the third old house of our married life, I was bemoaning all the horrendous painting chores when my husband informed me, "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who do-it-themselves, and those who hire others to do it for them. We fall into the first category." I guess that's right. We also fall into the cheap category.

Love your blog.

[Kelley]

I understand, some of us trade what mattered then for what we want now. Instead of just getting stuff. I think it makes us much more creative. It would be boring to just buy it all :)

I love how you have displayed the buttons on your auctions!

[Sue]

I am a new reader of your blog and I am wondering if you post randomly or on certain days of the week. I so look forward to each and every post!

[freckled hen]

I'm not sure how I missed this post for a whole week. I suppose I am okay with DIY as long as I don't think about it. Some of my siblings are the type of picking colors and pointing and I'm not sure how I ended up this way. When I am on top of a ladder praying for my life it feels silly but when everything is done and tip top it makes me so happy.
Love the ribbons!